| Detox rehab programs vary greatly. They vary in | | | | much more than a 28 day stay in treatment. |
| method, quality of service, price and many other | | | | Marijuana usually is less. Heavy alcohol and some |
| ways. | | | | prescribed drugs take whatever they take. |
| An important way they vary is in length of | | | | If a treatment center promises to deal effectively |
| treatment. Some programs are 28 day programs. | | | | with drug addiction on a set schedule, it probably |
| Some centers are detox only centers that last from | | | | means that when the scheduled finish date arrives, |
| 3 to 10 days and there are some programs that | | | | you are out on your ear, ready or not. Or, get out |
| require the addict to stay for no less than one year. | | | | your checkbook, sign up for another stay. |
| If all addictions were exactly the same, this might | | | | To be done right, treatment takes as long as it |
| make some sense. If every addict could learn at the | | | | takes. Whether that is a short or long stay depends |
| same pace and all drugs could be eradicated from the | | | | on the individual, not on a schedule laid out in a board |
| body in the same amount of time, putting a time limit | | | | room. There should be no difference in price, and the |
| on drug detox treatment might be workable. | | | | recovery can progress at its own pace. |
| But there is no set time; you cannot say how long it | | | | When the addict and the councilors feel the program |
| will take any individual to finish drug rehab. | | | | is complete and all requirements are finished, at the |
| Some addicts will be ready to face life again in three | | | | addict's own pace, then it is time for graduations and |
| months; some require twice that long. Others will | | | | goodbyes. |
| need the support of a drug-free environment for as | | | | To do otherwise is to either short-change the |
| much as a year before they can go it on their own | | | | individual or, sometimes even worse, to continue to |
| without relapsing to drugs. | | | | force treatment on someone who is ready to go out |
| There are also differences in specific drugs of abuse. | | | | and face life again, this time without drugs. |
| The degree of addiction possible with heroin requires | | | | |